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Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
February 2, 2010
Today is a big primary election day in Illinois to determine the candidates US Senate, Congress, Governor, and a host of state and county positions, but voter turnout is expected to be very low.
Nevertheless, I did not vote in the primary. I have never voted in a primary election. My position as city administrator requires me to be nonpartisan and apolitical. I work for the entire City Council and the aldermen have diverse political affiliations. I try not to favor one political persuasion over another.
My primary responsibility as city administrator is to objectively implement the policies and laws approved by the City Council. In primary elections, voters must declare one party. I believe that aligning with one party in a primary election could compromise my relations with the City Council and I could be perceived as partisan in carrying out my duties. It is a risk I am not willing to take.
However, I did vote nonpartisan and voted on the City’s lone proposition: whether or not to eliminate the position of the elected City Treasurer.
Although I did not vote in today’s primary, perhaps you will see me in line on November 2 as I vote in the general election.
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